Sergio Pettis spent years trying to escape his brother’s shadow. Mission accomplished.
The 29-year-old Milwaukee native has emerged as one of the sport’s premier bantamweights, having excelled in both the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bellator MMA. Pettis now sports a 22-5 record and finds himself on a five-fight winning streak, his longest such tear since he started his career with 10 consecutive victories. The reigning Bellator bantamweight champion has not tasted defeat in nearly four years.
As Pettis awaits word on his next assignment—a scheduled title defense opposite Roufusport teammate Raufeon Stots was scuttled in April—from Bellator matchmakers, a look at a few of the rivalries that have helped chart his course to this point:
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 quarterfinalist submitted the previously unbeaten Pettis with a rear-naked choke in the third round of their featured UFC on Fox 10 prelim on Jan.